The Blooming Flower and The Sunlight

Chapter Tres

"Ten years," Himari whispered back, her voice barely audible among the students taking out their notebooks. "I tried to write, Cassi. Pero ang higpit ni Papochka. Every letter I wrote, kinukuha niya. My letters might be delivered here in Russia, but they'll ended up on Papochka's hands — hindi sa 'yo." She said, so soft, and hurt.

I felt my jaw tighten.

Gago talaga 'yung matandang 'yon. "Kaya pala, akala ko kasi kinalimutan mo na 'yung promise natin sa alcove."

"Hinding-hindi ko gagawin 'yon," she answered too fast, she's still so honest, isn't she? She leaned in a bit closer, and I saw Yuki move his hand toward his bag out of the corner of my eye. "I survived Japan because I knew you were still here. Kahit na sabi nila ay.. nagbago ka na raw."

"Nagbago naman talaga ako," I muttered, looking away dahil ramdam ko na namang umiinit 'yung mukha ko, nangangamatis na ata ako ah. "I'm not the weak kid you used to protect, Himari. I'm 'Five' now. Everyone's afraid of me."

"Everyone?" Himari giggled, and damn, para akong hinihigop pabalik sa childhood namin. "I'm not. You're still just Cassi to me. 'Yung Cassi na namumula kapag inaasar ko."

"Hindi ako namumula," pagsisinungaling ko, kahit alam kong kitang-kita nina Vel 'yung tenga ko na parang kamatis na sa pula.

"Sus, Five! Kunwari ka pa, kitang-kita hanggang dito oh!" Vel said from my back. "Himari, 'wag kang maniwala d'yan. Kanina pa 'yan hindi mapakali nung nalaman niyang darating ka."

"Vel, manahimik ka kung ayaw mong ipakain ko sa 'yo 'yang barya mo," banta ko sa kanya, pero tumawa lang ang gago.

"See?" Himari smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Same old Cassi. Mainitin pa rin ang ulo, angry bird pa din." Kung hindi lang kita baby eh.

"Himari-sama," singit ni Yuki, looking at me with pure disgust. "Huwag kang masyadong lumapit sa kanya. We don't know his intentions. He's a Kuznetsov. He might just hurt you."

I felt the "wild" side of me growl. I looked at Yuki, my eyes turning cold. "I'd rather cut off my own hands than hurt her. Subukan niyo lang akong harangan, baka kayo ang malibing nang maaga."

"Cassi, hinga," Himari touched the table near my hand, not actually touching me, pero sapat na 'yon para kumalma ako. "Yuki, relax. Kakasabi ko lang, childhood friend ko siya. He's my safe place."

Safe place. Tangina, I'm a mafia heir, a killer in training, pero sa kanya, "safe place" lang ako? My heart was doing backflips.

"Anyway," Himari shifted the topic, looking at the silk band on my wrist. "Bakit may dala kang lavender na scrunchie? Is that... for your girlfriend?"

"I don't have a girlfriend," mabilis kong sagot. "I kept it. It was yours, remember? The one you dropped nung hinila ka nila pasakay sa sasakyan."

Napatigil siya. Her eyes softened, and I could see the sadness returning. "You kept that? For ten years?"

"I keep everything that belongs to my Sunlight," I admitted, my voice dropping an octave.

Sa likod namin, narinig ko ang bulong ni Ace. "Patay na. Inlababo na talaga ang boss natin. Killian, i-ready mo na 'yung security. Gulo 'to kapag nalaman ni Stepan."

"Already on it," Killian replied, his fingers flying across his phone.

Himari was about to say something more, but the professor started the lecture. "Settle down! We have a lot to cover."

Himari turned to her notebook, but she whispered one last thing. "I missed the flower, Cassi. But I missed the boy who cared for it even more."

I couldn't even reply. I just sat there, staring at my notebook, drawing random circles because my brain was officially fried. For the first time in a decade, the Russian winter didn't feel so cold.

"Himari," I whispered back after a few minutes, not looking at her.

"Hmm?" I f*****g missed her voice.

"Welcome home. I won't let them take you away again. Kahit pito pa 'yang guards mo in total, o kahit si Ken pa 'yan... akin ka na ulit."

Naramdaman kong lumingon siya sa akin, and even without looking, I knew she was smiling and kinda blushing...cute mo talaga baby!

AFTER LECTURE

Pagkatapos ng mahabang lecture na wala naman akong naintindihan dahil sa bango ni Himari na katabi ko, tumunog na rin ang bell. Break time. Finally.

Agad na tumayo ang anim niyang guards. Sabay-sabay silang nag-ayos ng gamit na parang isang unit ng military. Si Maxim, 'yung higanteng Ruso, tumayo agad sa likod ni Himari na parang pader.

"Himari-sama, let's go to the cafeteria. We already reserved a table," sabi ni Yuki habang matalim ang tingin sa akin.

Tumingin sa akin si Himari, halatang nag-aalinlangan.

"Cassi, sasama ka ba?"

Bago pa ako makasagot, sumingit na si Takeru, 'yung maingay na socialite. Inakbayan niya si Himari — at putangina, nakita ko kung paano nag-twitch ang mata ni Killian sa likod.

"Hima-chan! Let's go na, gutom na ako. Besides, baka ma-stress ka lang dito sa mga... intimidating people na 'to," sabi ni Takeru sabay sulyap sa akin.

"Hoy, 'yung kamay mo, bitaw," malamig kong sabi. Ramdam ko 'yung init sa mukha ko-hindi dahil sa hiya, kundi dahil sa selos. "Hindi siya sasama sa inyo. Dito lang siya."

"And who are you to decide that?" hamon ni Alexei, 'yung diplomat. "We've been with her for years. Ikaw, kakikita mo lang sa kanya. We know what's best for her safety."

Tumayo na rin sina Ace, Vel, at Killian. Ramdam ang tensyon sa buong classroom. Ang mga ibang estudyante, nagsialisan na dahil alam nilang may gulo.

"Safety?" tawa ni Vel habang pinaglalaruan ang barya niya. "Gago, kami ang definition ng safety dito sa Russia. Isang tawag lang ng boss namin, magiging parking lot 'tong university. Kaya 'wag niyo kaming ma-English-English d'yan."

"Guys, tama na," awat ni Himari. "Cassi, guards ko sila. They're just doing their job."

"Job? To keep me away from you?" I scoffed. "Himari, sampung taon akong naghintay. Ngayong nandito ka na, akala ba nila papayag akong iba ang kasama mo mag-lunch?"

"Himari-sama, Ken-san told us to keep an eye on you," sabi naman ni Haru Sato sa malumanay pero seryosong boses. "Lalo na sa mga taong may... violent history."

"Violent history, huh?" singit ni Ace, inaayos ang salamin niya. "Sinasabi niyo ba 'yan dahil Kuznetsov siya? Kasi kung ganyan ang laro niyo, baka gusto niyong i-check 'yung bank accounts ng pamilya niyo. Might disappear in five minutes." Ace chuckled darkly, no humor on it.

"Stop it!" Himari stood up, her face turning a bit pale.

Psychogenic Asthma — alam kong na-stress na siya.

Agad akong lumapit, ignoring the glares of the six guys. "Himari, hinga. Okay, okay. Hindi na kami makikipag-away."

"Really?" tanong niya, medyo hingal.

"Oo. Pero..." Tiningnan ko 'yung pito. "Kakain tayo sa cafeteria. Pero isang table lang tayo. I don't care kung magmukhang meeting ng UN 'yung table natin, basta katabi kita."

Nagkatinginan si Yuki at Alexei. Mukhang ayaw nila, but when they saw Himari gripping on the hem of my jacket — isang gesture na ginagawa niya nung bata pa kami — wala silang nagawa.

"Fine," Yuki hissed. "Pero sa kabilang side kami."

SA CAFETERIA

Pagdating namin sa cafeteria, literal na tumigil ang mundo ng mga tao.

Isipin mo naman kasi, ang nasa gitna ay ako at si Himari. Nakadikit ako sa kanya, halos hindi ko na pansinin 'yung pagkain ko dahil binabantayan ko bawat galaw niya. Cute pa din kahit kumakain lang siya.

Sa kaliwa naman namin ay ang tatlong ulupong ko. Si Vel na kumakain ng burger habang inaasar si Takeru, si Ace na seryosong nagbabasa, at si Killian na hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Renjiro.

At sa right at front naman namin ay ang six niyang guards. Si Maxim na kumakain ng parang hindi nauubusan, at si Yuki na parang papatay ng tao gamit ang tinidor.

"Cassi, bakit hindi ka kumakain? Lavender tea lang 'yan oh," sabi ni Himari, sabay usog ng plate niya sa akin. "Gusto mo ng sushi? Gawa ni Haru 'to."

"Ayoko ng gawa niya," bulong ko, pero kinuha ko rin nung makita kong nag-pout siya. Gago, bakit ang cute niya pa rin?

"Selos ka ba?" tanong niya, she's giggling, damn it.

"Hindi, I'm not jealous," sagot ko, sabay lunok ng sushi. "I'm just making sure na walang lason 'to."

"Lason?" sabi ni Mio Yamato, 'yung girl guard niya. "Hoy, Kuznetsov. Kung gusto naming lasunin 'yan, kanina pa sana 'yan nakahandusay. We care about Himari, okay? Unlike you na puro gulo ang dala."

"Mio, please," saway ni Himari.

"Totoo naman, Hima! Look at him, namumula na naman, kamatis ba 'yan? Akala mo naman kung sinong matapang, takot naman palang mahawakan," dagdag ni Mio, sulyap sa gloved hands ko.

I froze. Alam nila. Alam nila 'yung Haphephobia ko.

"So what if I am?" I looked at Mio, my eyes darkening.

"At least her touch is the only one I'm not afraid of."

Natahimik ang buong table. Si Himari, napatigil sa pag-inom. Ang mga guards niya, nanlaki ang mata. Sina Vel naman, napa-"Uyyyy!" sa background.

"Cassi..." Himari whispered, her face turning as pink as her favorite flower. "Really?"

"Oo," I muttered, looking down at my tea. "Kaya 'wag niyo akong subukan. Sa kanya lang ako mahina, pero sa inyo? I'm still the monster."

Biglang may lumapit sa table namin. Isang matangkad na lalaki na may dalang tray. Setagaya Ken.

"Am I late for the party?" Ken said, smirking habang tinitingnan kaming lahat. "Himari, I told the driver to pick you up early later. We have a lot to discuss about the 'reunion' dinner tonight."

Tiningnan niya ako-isang tingin na punong-puno ng panghahamak. "And you, Cassian. Better stay in your lane. Fourth year is a lot harder than you think... lalo na kung may distractions ka."

Ken leaned down, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind Himari's ear.

Bago pa dumampi 'yung daliri niya, nahawakan ko na 'yung pulsuhan niya. Tight. f*****g tight.

"Sabi ko sa 'yo kanina, 'di ba?" I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous level. "Bitaw. She is not yours to touch."